Triathletes are ready to rumble the river banks

TRINOWRA will make its athletic mark on the CBD as around 2500 spectators are expected to attend the start of the Raine & Horne Nowra Triathlon Festival on Sunday, January 19.

Triathletes will swamp the banks of the Shoalhaven River which is expected to be buzzing with energy after 800 competitors braved last year’s raging heat-waves to conquer the competition.

The event is planned to feature junior events along with the popular beginners triathlon, The Enticer, which involves a 300 metre swim, 10 kilometre ride and two kilometre run.

The Sprint event involves a 750 metre swim, 20 kilometre ride and five kilometre run, but everyone’s eyes will be on the athletes in the main Olympic distance event which involves a 1.5 kilometre swim, 40 kilometre ride and 10 kilometre run.

Two local athletes to watch are Nowra’s NAB senior financial advisor Neil Galletly in the Sprint event and three time competitor and local Josh Henry in the Olympic event.

It is Henry’s third Nowra triathlon after he took up the sport four years ago.

He will compete in the Olympic distance event.

In the past the 35-year-old has had trouble with the bike leg, but has still managed to finish in the top five of his age group, with his strength the swim leg.

“This year I would like to finish top three in my age group and place well overall. I would like to try to get as close as I can to the two hour mark,” he said.

Henry said the Nowra triathlon was good as a competitor because you got to race with a lot of people you knew around the area.

“Triathlons are a great atmosphere as they attract a really positive group of people,” he said.

“It is not necessarily about where you place. It is about setting your own goals and setting out to achieve what you want to achieve.”

Galletly, 53, is also competing in his third Nowra Triathlon in the sprint distance.

Last year he came second in his age group in the Nowra Triathlon and took out the series in his age group.

This year he wants to win his age group.

“Getting through to the end is a personal imperative because that is what is more important to me. As I get older I keep coming back because it’s a friendly sport whether you are an elite athlete or beginner, everyone is respectful of people’s age and gives it a go,” he said.

This year Galletly has upped the ante in his training, which includes early morning cycling gym work, and resisting over-indulgence at Christmas.

“Nowra is a good course because it is a flat course with a river and no surf,” he said.

But Galletly said competitors have to expect anything with triathlons.

“My particular race is mid morning so it could be very hot, but I need to be ready for anything … but it is all part of the fun,” he said.

Pre-event registration will be available at the Nowra Sailing Club on the day and an awards presentation for the Sunday events will be held on the shores of the river Sunday afternoon.